Communication and cooperation between the convention center, show management and a local charity results in a highly successful donation effort and landfill diversion.
The DPI Specialty Food Show recently partnered with the Oregon Food Bank and the Oregon Convention Center to help reduce the amount of food waste bound for the landfill and donate quality food products to organizations feeding the hungry in our community. With the show management initiative and coordination, as well as the assistance of staff from the OFB and the OCC, more than 35 pallets of food -- a total of 20,614 pounds -- was collected and donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Donated food included items such as specialty cheeses, meats, breads, packaged meals, cakes, sauces, and fish.
According to Hilary Eyres of the Oregon Food Bank, food shows of similar size generally generate 8,500 to 10,000 pounds of donations. "I was anticipating a 50-75% increase in donated product, but we more than doubled what we normally average at food shows.”
Pre-event communication between DPI, OFB and OCC helped to coordinate logistics ahead of time. In addition, information was included in vendor packets and at the pre-show vendor meetings. OFB representatives visited vendor booths shortly before the close of the show, encouraging them to bring donated items to pallet stations or to leave items at their booths with “FOOD BANK” signs attached. DPI staff, OFB volunteers and OCC staff also helped to box and gather donated food. Food that was not able to be donated -- displays, samples or opened packages -- was composted.
All agreed that it was the pre-planning and commitment of all three parties that made the collection effort so successful.
"The OCC crew was extremely helpful after the show - collecting compostable items and donations left on booth tables," said Brittin Witzenburg, OCC's Sustainability Coordinator. "It took a well-coordinated effort to capture this much for the Oregon Food Bank, and I appreciated everyone’s participation and enthusiasm."
Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. Sixteen are independent charitable organizations. OFB directly operates the four regional food banks serving the Portland metro area, Tillamook and southeast Oregon. Those four centers distribute food weekly to more than 340 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs helping low-income individuals in Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, Washington, Tillamook, Malheur and Harney counties.
Contact:
Brittin Witzenburg
Sustainability Coordinator
Oregon Convention Center
503.731.7949
BrittinWitzenburg@oregoncc.org
